Impact Of Modern Cosmetic Dentistry
Dentistry has significantly evolved from its beginnings to improve the cleanliness, function and health of teeth to include more aesthetic goals. Driven by the quest to optimise the appearance of teeth and gums in relation to facial features, modern cosmetic dentistry has evolved to spawn many new techniques and breakthrough innovations. Unsightly metal braces have been replaced by clear plastic ones. Laser whitening treatments lighten up to 8 shades in a single one-hour appointment. Modern prosthetic restorations are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth. Once unheard of, these modern treatments are now discussed in beauty magazines and fashion blogs, undoubtedly testifying to the growing acceptance of cosmetic treatments in the popular culture.
In this article, we take a look at how modern cosmetic dentistry continues to impact the lives of millions of patients in new and exciting ways:
Brighten your teeth
Once upon a time you had to put up with stained and discoloured teeth for better or worse. Then teeth whitening came along and changed everything. To be fair, the initial teeth whitening experiment promised more than what it delivered both in terms of pricing as well as results. Thankfully, it slowly grew from a much-ballyhooed gimmick to a full-fledged professional treatment that you can now receive at a dental practice. In-chair laser teeth whitening treatments in particular have been delivering consistent results, proving to be one of the best available methods to remove extrinsic stains that are accumulated from years of drinking coffee and smoking. Laser whitening systems like the Philips Zoom Whitening system, use ultra-violet light to activate the bleaching gel. This helps to catalyse the process and speed up the whitening effect, getting you the desired results in a shorter time. Delivering a virtually painless process for the majority of patients, today’s teeth whitening methods are also fast, easy and affordable – giving you more reasons than ever to brighten your smile.
Hide your imperfections
If stains are not your only concern but you’re also concerned about having wonky or chipped teeth, you may wish to consider dental veneers. In just two visits to the dentist, dental veneers can be applied on your teeth to cover up your dental imperfections. The veneer is really an ultra-thin shell of porcelain that will make your teeth look brighter, straighter and perfectly shaped. The dentist takes an impression and creates a mould based on it. The mould is then used to fabricate the dental veneers, which are finally bonded to your teeth to precisely hide the flaws while presenting a natural smile. As long as your underlying teeth are in good condition, modern veneers can ‘remove’ the blemishes and transform the look of your smile.
Ever heard of nasty taunts like “tin grin” and “metal mouth”? Well, those nicknames usually target someone who wears metal braces. We all know about the old social stigma of wearing traditional braces consisting of wires and brackets. They not only attract unwanted attention, they make it difficult to brush your teeth or eat certain foods. Today’s patients find an alternative to traditional braces in Invisalign. Using modern clear plastic braces known as aligners, Invisalign makes it possible for you to straighten your teeth without any one noticing the braces in your mouth. They are also removable, which means you get to clean your teeth and eat as you normally would.
These innovative cosmetic dental treatments show us of how far dentistry has come since the days of drilling and filling. Perhaps the most understated quality of modern cosmetic dentistry is that the treatments work as advertised. And the biggest beneficiaries are the patient with access to more affordable, effective and minimally invasive treatment options to choose from.